Proof press



y 1943- E. b. VANDERCOOK ETAL 2,319,961

PROOF PRESS Filed April 13, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l .ZTYE'nZ 2- E E0 WA 20 0. MINDEEC'OOK. 0,9 we 0. I/A/VDE/QCOOK.

4 R YH WE NR E. o. VANDERC OOK IETAL 2,319,961

PROOF PRESS Filed A ril 13,1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25,1943.

May 25, 1943.

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PROOF? .PRESS Filed April 13. 1942 4 Shets-Shet 3 mm m. 9m

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Patented May 25, 1943 PROOF PRESS Edward 0. Vandercook, Kenilworth, and David D.

Vandercook, Evanston, Ill., assignors to Vandcrcook & Sons, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 13, 1942, Serial No. 438,702

5 Claims. (Cl. 101-270) Our invention relates to printing or proof presses and particularly to improved safety means therefor for preventing injury to the operator.

Our invention is particularly useful in connection with presses of the type disclosed in Vandercook et al. Patent No. 1,843,255, dated February 2, 1932, in which type of presses an impression cylinder and an inking roll assembly are caused to travel through an orbit for successive passage over the press bed for cooperation with a printing form on the bed to ink the form and take impressions therefrom. Such presses are usually motor driven and sometimes at considerable speed, and therefore safety means are desirable for preventing injury to an operator in case his hands are not quickly enough withdrawn from in front of the impression cylinder carriage or the inking assembly.

In Vandercook et al, Patent No. 2,271,750, dated February 3, 1942, safety means are provided in the type of press referred to, with which, upon engagement of the operators hand by guard means movable with the impression carriage and also the inking assembly, switch means are actuated for changing the circuit condition of the to inertia, and injury may result to the operator.

The important object of our present invention is to provide improved safety means which will cause substantially instantaneous stoppage of the means which propels the impression cylinder carriage and the inking assembly across the press bed, and which will also effect instantaneous unclutching of such propulsion means from the driving train driven by the motor, the safety means operating entirely mechanically and being released for operation upon contact thereof with the operators hand or any obstruction in the path of the impression carriage and inking assembly.

Our invention is embodied in the structure shown on the drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a proof press with the safety means applied;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the press with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a rear side. view looking at the clutch end of the machine;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts shown on Figure 3; I

. Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the press bed and the impression cylinder carriage and safety means applied thereto;

Figure 6 is a section on plane VI-VI of Figure Figure 7 is a section on plane VII--VII of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a section on plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Briefly describing the press shown, it comprises the base l0 which supports the press bed structure B as by cross bolts l'l extending through the bed structure and through vertical bars l2 at opposite sides of the bed and extending upwardly from brackets l3 on the base. The bed structure B provides the bed plate 14 having the rail flanges l5 extending along its sides.

The carriage for the impression cylinder I comprises the end frames [6 connected by cross bars H, the impression cylinder rollers l8 engaging the rail flanges l5, rollers 19 on the end frames engaging against the under side of the rail flanges.

The inking rolls 2!] are journaled in end frames 2| and at their ends engage the rail flanges l5, the rollers 22 engaging with the under side of the rail flanges. At the ends of the bed structure B semicircular guides 23 and 24 are provided for the rollers on the impression cylinder and the inking roller carriage.

At the left end of the press a shaft 25 extends transversely through the bed structure B and at its ends carries sprocket wheels 26 and 26', and at the right end of the bed structure a shaft 21 carries at its ends sprocket Wheels 28 and 28'. A link belt 29 is supported on the sprocket wheels 26 and 28, and the link 29 is supported on the sprocket wheels 26' and 28, the impression cylinder carriage structure and the inking roll carriage structure being connected with the link belt to travel therewith in an orbit for passage over the top of the press bed for engagement with a form F upon the bed.

Within the base 10 is a driving motor M connected by a belt 30 with a transmission pulley structure 3| which is connected by a belt 32 With a pulley 33 upon shaft 34 which has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 35. A driving belt 36 engages this sprocket and the sprocket driving wheel 31, the belt traveling over an idler sprocket 38. The sprocket 38 is secured to a hub 39 journalled on the rear end of the shaft 27, the hub having clutch teeth 40 engageable with the clutch teeth 4| on the hub 42 of the sprocket wheel 28, which sprocket wheel and the sprocket wheel 28 are rigidly secured to the shaft 27. When the clutch teeth are in engagement, the rotation of the motor driven sprocket wheel 37 will be communicated to the shaft 21 for turning of the sprockets 2B and 28, the hub structure 39 being shiftable outwardly on the shaft for disconnection of the clutch teeth.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 5, a bar 43 is secured to the top of the front vertical supporting bars l2, and below the ends of the bar 43 brackets 44 and 45 are secured to the outer edges of the bars l2 to parallel the bar 43. Secured to the top of the bracket 44, as by screws 46, is a guide plate 4?, and to the corresponding end of the bar 43 is secured a guide plate 48. On the bracket 45 is a guide plate 49 opposed to a guide plate 50 on the corresponding end of the bar 43. A rack bar has blocks 52 and 53 secured thereto provided with guide ways for receiving respectively the guide plates 4'|48 and 4950.

Between the front vertical bars l2, the rack bar 5| has 21. depending plate 54 secured thereto and between this plate, and the bar I2 to the right, braking springs 55 are interposed; Other braking springs 56 are interposed between the block 521,0n the rack bar and the adjacent vertical bar l2. During operation of the press the impression cylinder carriage and the inking roll carriage travel toward the right across the top of the press bed, and springs 55 and 56 resist and brake the movement of the rack bar 5| toward the right.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a cross bar 43 is mounted on top of the rear vertical support bars l2, and these bars have the brackets 44' and 45 thereon below the ends of the bar 43, and between the brackets and the bar ends the blocks 52 and 53' on the rack bar 5| are slidable, a plate 54' depending from the rack bar between the supporting bars l2. "The rack bar 5| is similar to thegrack bar 5| rat the front of the machine, and the movement of the "rack bar 5| in the direction of the traveling carriages is retarded and braked by the springs 55'. and 56'.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, at the rear end of the end frames I6 of the impression cylinder carriage are brackets 51 in each of which-a forwardly extending arm 58 is pivoted by a'pin 59 forla-teral swing, a bar 6 extending into thejbore of the arm from a pawl head 6| having teeth 62 at its outer edge for engaging and interlocking with the teeth 63 on the corresponding rack bar. Within the bore of the arm 58'is a spring 64 which resists rearward movement of the pawl head. When the arms 58-are swung inwardly for withdrawal of pawl heads from the rackjbars, as shown on Figure 2, the carriages will be free to travel on the press, but when the arms are swung outwardly for engagement of the pawl teeth with the rack bar teeth, as shown on Figure 5, further travel of the carriages'will be braked by the spring 64 and the springs 55, 56 and 55, 56, and the carriages are quickly stopped.

The pawls 6| are normally held away from the rack bars by trigger mechanism which is released in the event that the operator's hands or other obstructions, in front of the on-coming carriages are not removed sufficiently rapidly. Referring to Figures 2, 5, and 6, extending between the side frames I6 of the impression carriage in front of the cylinder thereon is a tubular bar 65, the bar being rotatable. In each end of the bar is a plunger 66 terminating at its outer end in a T head 61 engaging in the longitudinally extending T slot 68 in the forward end of the respective pawl head 6|. Behind each plunger a spring- 69 in the bar 65 abuts against a cross pin 70 and tends to shift the plunger outwardly for swing of the pawl arm into engagement with the respective rack bar. Each plunger has a pin extending therefrom through a slot 72 in the bar 65 for limiting the axial movement of the plunger.

At each end of the bar 65, adjacent to the respective end walls l6 of the impression cylinder carriage, a collar 13 is secured to the bar and "has the transversely extending slot 14 in which the upper end of a latch lever 15 is fulcrumed by a pin 16. At its upper end the lever has a segmental row of teeth 7! extending through a slot 18 in the bar 65 for meshing with teeth 19 on the plunger 66. Upon outward swing of the levers 15 at the ends of the bar 65, the plungers 66 will be shifted inwardly to withdraw the corresponding pawls 6| from the respective rack bars 5|, 5|. To hold the levers 15 in such pawl releasing position, a stud extends from each of the carriage walls I6 adjacent to the lower and of the respective lever 15 and has a detent slot 8| in its rear side (Figure 8) for receiving the lever to prevent inward swing thereof against the pressure of the corresponding spring 69 tending to shift the corresponding plunger 66 outwardly. Upon rotation of the bar 65 and swing the levers 15 to withdraw their ends out of the detent notches 8|, the springs 69 will be free to shift the plungers outwardly for set-ting of the pawls 6| into tooth engagement with the rack bars. As a means for rotating the bar 65 for unlatching of the latch levers, arms 82 are secured to and extend downwardly from adjacent the ends of the bar 65 and at their lower ends are connected by a guard rail 83 which may be provided with a sheathing 84 of rubber.

Normally the guard rail 83-is in its forward position and the latch levers are held in their outer positions in the detent notches 8| and with the pawls 6| withdrawn from the rack bars. During operation of the press, the operator lays sheets of paper on the inked form for engagement therewith by the oncoming impression cylinder, and if the operator removes his hands quickly enough, the press will continue its operation. However, should he fail to remove his hands quickly enough, they will be engaged by the guard rail 83 resultingin rearward swing of the rail and rotation of the bar 65. While the guard rail is contacted by the operators hand, it is free to swing through a comparatively large arc. However, after only a slightrotational move: ment of the bar 65 from its normal position, the latch levers 15 will have been swung rearwardly out of the detent notches 8| so that the springs 69,willpshift the plungers 66 outwardly for engagement of the pawl 6| with the rack bars which then move with the pawls and carriage to the extent permitted by the springs 64 and 55, 56 and 55', 56, the rack bars then stopping further travel of the press carriage before the guard bar 83 has been swung through its entire arc; The springs will protect the press against unnecessary strain when the pawlsare suddenly engaged with the rack bars and will absorband cushion the impact without material forward inertia movement of'the carriage, and injury'tc the operator will be prevented. T 7

The safety means'can also be associated with the inking roll carriage sothat if a printed sheet is not removed rapidly enough by the operator from the form, the guard rail in front of the printing roll carriage will contact the operators hand for release of the corresponding latch levers and outward shift of the corresponding pawls into engagement with the rack bars.

Provision is also made for unclutching the drive sprocket 31 when a guard rail 83 is contacted for release of the pawls 6| for engagement with the rack bars. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a cross bar 85 secured to the upright bars I2 at the rear side of the machine has a clutch lever structure fulcrumed to its outer end by means of a pin 86, the lever structure comprising upper and lower bars 81 and 88 held spaced at their inner ends by a block 39 and at their outer ends, adjacent to the end of the bar 85, by a block 99. The bars at their outer ends are spread apart and carry pins SH and 92 engaging in the circumferential channel 93 in the cylindrical head 94 at the outer end of the hub 39 which supports the driving sprocket 31. A spring 95 in the block 99 abuts at it inner end against a plate 96 secured to and extending outwardly from the end of the bar 85, and this spring tends to swing the outer end of the lever structure outwardly for disconnection of the clutch teeth on the hub 39 of the driving sprocket 31! from the teeth on the hub 42 of the sprocket wheel 29', as shown on Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, a cross shaft 91 is journaled in the bed frame B and at its forward end mounts a tripping lever. 98 and at its rear end a tripping lever 99. The tripping lever 98 has at its: upper end the rounded head 99 engaging in the recess I9I in the abutment plate 55 depending from the rack bar The link 99 has at its upper end the rounded head I9I engageable by the lower end of the abutment plate 54 depending from the rack bar 5I.

Normally the rack :bars are held by their springs 55-59 and 55'-56', respectively, with extensions I92 on the bars against stop posts I93 on the vertical bars I2, and a spring I94 (Figure 3) normally holds the tripping levers with their heads Hi9 and I9I in engagement with the abutment plates 54 and 54, respectively. Extending through the block 99 at the inner end of the clutch lever structure is an abutment screw I95 behind whose inner end the lower end of the tripping lever 99 is normally disposed, as shown on Figure 3, for holding the clutch lever, against the force of the spring 95, in position for clutching of the driving sprocket 31 to the belt sprocket 28. When the guard bar 93 is contacted and swung for unlatching of the levers I5 and engagement of the pawls BI with the rack bars the resulting movement of the rack bars and the abutment plates 54 and 54' depending therefrom is communicated to the trip levers 98 and 99, and the lever 99 withdraws its lower end from behind the abutment screw I95 to permit the spring 525 to swing the clutch lever for unclutching of the driving sprocket 31 from the belt sprocket 29', as shown on Figure 4. As shown on Figure 3, the tripping lever 99 projects only a slight distance behind the abutment screw I95 so that the very first movement of the rack bars against their springs by the pawls 6| will result in unclutching of the driving sprocket 31, to be followed almost immediately by the stoppage of the propulsion belts 29 and 29' for the impression cylinder carriage and the inking roller carriage structure.

After a safety stoppage of the press, the guard rail 89, which was swung rearwardly for safety stoppage of the press, is swung forwardly for rotation of the bar 93 with the latch levers I5, and the latch levers are swung outwardly for reengagement'in their detent notches GI, such resetting of the levers swinging the pawl arms away from the rack bars.

After unclutching of the press and return of the rack bars to normal position, the inner end of the abutment screw I95 on the clutch lever will be in the path of the edge of the tripping lever 99, as shown on Figure 4. For restarting the press after resetting of the pawls 6 I, a starting rod I96 is provided, slidable in the press bed frame and terminating at its front end in a button I91, a spring I99 tending to hold the rod forwardly. Upon depression of the rod, its rear end engages with the end of the abutment screw I95 to swing the clutch lever back for reclutching of the driving sprocket 3? with the belt sprocket 28, and the released trip lever 99 will then be swung back into its normal position a distance behind the end of the abutment screw.

We have shown a practical and eficient embodiment of our invention, but we do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement, and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim as follows:

1. In a printing press of the type disclosed, the combination of the press bed, a carriage supporting a roll and movable on said bed for cooperation of the roll with the form of the bed, driving means for said carriage, a driving source, a clutch for connecting said driving source with said driving means, a rack bar on said bed, a toothed pawl on said carriage, means on said carriage tending to move said pawl into engagement with said rack, holding means on said carriage normally holding said pawl away from said rack, a guard element on said carriag extending in front of said roll, means effective upon displacement of said guard element during forward travel of said carriage for releasing said holding means for engagement of said pawl with said rack, means permitting limited movement of said rack with said carriage upon engagement of said pawl with said rack, and means rendered effective by such movement of the rack bar for disengaging said clutch.

2. In a printing press of the type described, the combination of a press bed, a carriage supporting a roll and movable on said bed for cooperation of the roll with a form on the bed, driving means for said carriage, a driving source, clutch means for connecting said source with said driving means, rack bars along the sides of said bed, toothed pawl on said carriage, means on said carriage tending to move said pawls into engagement with said racks, holding means on said carriage normally holding said pawls away from said racks, a guard element on said carriage extending in front thereof, mean effective upon displacement of said guard element during forward travel of said carriage for releasing said holding means for engagement of said pawls with said rack bars, means permitting limited movement of said racks with said pawls in the direction of travel of said carriage, tripping means normally holding said clutch engaged, and means effective upon initial movement of said rack bars with said pawls for actuating said tripping means for unclutching of said clutch means and final stopping of said carriage by said pawls.

3. In a press of the type described, the combination of the press bed, a carriage supporting a roll and movable on said bed for cooperation of the roll with a form on the bed, driving means for said carriage, a power driving source, clutch means for connecting said source with said driving means, a rack bar on said bed adjacent the path of travel of said carriage, said rack bar, except for limited movement thereof in the direction of carriage travel, being rigid relative to said bed, spring means resisting such movement of the rack bar, means effective upon such movement of the rack bar for causing unclutching of the clutch means,' apawl on said carriage, holding means for normally holding said pawl away from said rack bar, a guard element on said carriage extending in front thereof, and means eirective upon displacement of said guard element during forward travel of said carriage for releasing said holding means for engagement of said pawl with said rack bar and stopping of the carriage after unclutching of said clutching means by the forward movement of said rack bar with said pawl.

4. In a printing press, the combination of the press bed, a carriage supporting a roll and movable on said bed for cooperation of the roll with a form on the bed, driving means for said carriage, rack bars mounted on said bed along the sides thereof, toothed pawls on said carriage, latch levers on said carriage normally holding said pawls withdrawn from said rack bars, a guard element mounted on said carriage in front thereof to swing rearwardly, means effective upon rearward swing of said guard element for releasing said latch levers for engagement of said pawls with said racks, means adapting said racks for limited movement in the direction of the carriage travel after engagement thereof by said pawls, a power driving source, clutch means, holding means normally holding said clutch means engaged for connection of said driving source with said driving means, and means rendered effective upon initial movement of said rack bars with said carriage for releasing said holding means forunclutching of said clutch.

, 5. In a printing press, the combination of the press bed, a carriage supporting a roll and movableon said bed for cooperation of the roll with a form on the bed, propulsion means for said carriage, teeth on said bed, a toothed pawl on said carriage, a rotatable bar on said lcarriage in front of said roll, an actuating member on said bar connected with said pawl, spring means on said bar tending to shift said actuating member for engagement thereby of said pawl with said rack teeth, a latch lever fulcrumed on said bar to depend therefrom and having connection at its upper end with said actuating member, a detent notch on said carriage for normally receiving the lower end of said latch lever to hold said lever swung for setting of said actuating member for release of said pawl from said rack teeth, and a guard rail supported from said bar so that rearward displacement of said guard rail during travel of said carriage will efiect rotation of said bar for swing of said latch lever out of said notch whereby said spring becomes effective to shift said actuating member for engagement of said pawl with said rack teeth thereby to stop further travel of said carriage.

EDWARD O. VANDERCOOK. DAVID D. VANDERCOOK. 

